CESC Fabregas dedicated his World Cup winners’ medal to Arsenal – but shied away from pledging his future to the club.

He even said he was “proud to have been an Arsenal player” in what appeared a slip of the tongue following Spain’s 1-0 success over Holland and the speculation over his future will continue to rage.

Fabregas has told Arsene Wenger that he wants to join boyhood club Barcelona, but the Gunners are determined to hang on to their captain and believe the Catalan club’s financial problems will undermine their hopes.

Spain’s hard-fought triumph in Soccer City was given fresh momentum when Fabregas replaced Xabi Alonso in the last minute of normal time and it was his pass that allowed Andres Iniesta to score the winner.

Fabregas championed the role Arsenal have played in his development, but refused to commit himself to the Emirates.

“All I can say is that this is for the Arsenal players, for the Arsenal fans, for the manager and for all of the staff,” said Fabregas.

“I am really proud to have been an Arsenal player. It is for all of them – they deserve it. I am an Arsenal player and I am really proud to be able to give this trophy to all the fans. I had a text from Arsene
Wenger. He said, ‘Congratulations, you deserve it’. I replied and said
this is for everyone at Arsenal who have helped me be where I am today.

“I am really proud. I will never take this medal
off.”

Iniesta offered a glimmer of hope to
Arsenal fans. He said: “Cesc is a good guy who has so much respect for
Wenger and what Arsenal have made him.

“Everybody
in football knows he wants to join Barcelona, but he won’t act in a
manner that would upset the Arsenal fans. He will be a Barcelona player,
we know that, he knows that and Arsenal know that. The question is
when.

“I am convinced it will be in the next 12
months, but we will have to see if it’s this summer. Cesc won’t push for
the move, but we know he wants it.

“I am sure
being around the Barcelona players and getting a taste for winning has
made him hungry for more, but I know he will still act in a decent
manner while talks are going on with Barcelona and Arsenal.” Fabregas
and Iniesta are the products of a conveyor belt of talent that continues
to churn out players of a calibre that suggests La Roja can dominate
for years to come.